Where to find us at RSAC 2026
Next week, the cybersecurity community will gather in San Francisco for RSA Conference 2026 (RSAC), one of the biggest events of the year for security leaders, practitioners, founders, and investors.
RSAC has always been where the industry takes stock of the threats shaping the year ahead, the technologies redefining defense, and the ideas that will drive the next generation of cybersecurity innovation.
This year, the Ballistic team will present across the conference, with partners and advisors participating in seven sessions spanning keynotes, panels, and the RSAC Launch Pad competition, as well as several off-stage side events. Below is where you can find us.
Ballistic Ventures on the RSAC Stage
Resilient Infrastructure as National Defense: The Digital Front Line
Monday, March 23 | 9:40 AM | Moscone West 2007
Ballistic’s Venture Partner Nicole Perlroth joins a panel to explore how critical infrastructure has become the front line of national defense. The panel will examine how public-private partnerships, national investment, and resilient system design can strengthen essential services and enable rapid recovery from cyber and physical attacks. Fellow panelists are: Katie Gray (In-Q-Tel), Spencer Wilcox (Utility Industry Cyber Executive), and Danielle Jablanski (STV).
What It Really Takes to Be a CISO – Mentorship Panel
Tuesday, March 24 | 9:40 AM | Moscone South 313
Ballistic’s Venture Partner Phil Venables joins Charles Blauner of Cyber Aegis to share candid insights into the realities of leading security at the highest level. The panel will cover hard-earned lessons from the role, surprises along the way, and practical advice for the next generation of security leaders.
Inside Offensive Cyber: Lessons from Four NSA Directors
Tuesday, March 24 | 2:25 PM | YBCA Theater
Ballistic General Partner Ted Schlein joins four former directors of the National Security Agency and commanders of U.S. Cyber Command – Gen. Keith Alexander, Gen. Timothy Haugh, Gen. Paul Nakasone, and Adm. Mike Rogers – for a rare discussion about the future of offensive cyber operations. As calls grow for private-sector “hack back,” the panel will explore the ethics, policy implications, and escalation risks of offensive cyber capabilities.
RSAC Launch Pad: The Platform for Emerging Innovators
Tuesday, March 24 | 2:25 PM | Moscone South 202
Ballistic General Partner Barmak Meftah will serve as a judge for the competition, with emerging startups pitching their breakthrough ideas Shark Tank®–style. Fellow judges are: Saam Motamedi (Greylock) and Enrique Salem (Bain Capital Ventures).
Demystifying AI in Cyber: Threats, Safety, and Automation
Wednesday, March 25 | 2:25 PM | Moscone South 202
Ballistic General Partner Barmak Meftah will moderate a conversation with experts from industry and national security to examine how AI is reshaping cybersecurity – from AI-driven threats to responsible automation and security governance. The discussion will cut through the hype to explore the real-world implications for CISOs, boards, and national security leaders. Panelists are: Ali Golshan (NVIDIA), Flee Lee (Reddit), and Gen. Timothy Haugh (Ret., NSA, USCYBERCOM).
The Cyber Threat Landscape: Year in Review, Future in Focus
Thursday, March 26 | 8:30 AM | YBCA Theater
Ballistic General PartnerKevin Mandia and Venture Partner Nicole Perlroth deliver a keynote examining the past year’s most consequential cyberattacks and the threats emerging on the horizon. The session will explore AI-automated attacks, insecure LLM-generated code, evolving nation-state tactics, and why the “AI honeymoon” in cybersecurity may be ending.
CISOs Unchained III
Thursday, March 26 | 1:30 PM | YBCA Theater
Ballistic Venture Partner Phil Venables joins former CISOs for an unfiltered discussion about the evolving role of the CISO and the challenges facing security leaders today. Drawing on decades of experience leading enterprise security programs, the panel will explore leadership, strategy, and the future of the profession. Fellow panelists are: Meg Anderson (former CISO, Principal Financial Group), Charles Blauner (Cyber Aegis), and Roland Cloutier (The Business Protection Group).
Ballistic Ventures Outside the RSAC Stage
Piper Sandler Cybersecurity CEO Summit – (Registration Closed)
Monday, March 23 | 8:00 AM
Ballistic is co-sponsoring the summit again this year. Barmak Meftah will join a panel on “Public & Private Market Perspectives” and our portfolio companies Armadin,Concentric AI, and Noma will also present.
DTEX’s Trust Issues: The Only AI Panel You Need to See This Week
Monday, March 23 | 2:00 PM
Kevin Mandia and Nicole Perlroth will join a panel discussion hosted by DTEX exploring trust, security, and the real-world implications of AI.
2026 RSA Women’s Breakfast, Empower the Next
Tuesday, March 24 | 9:00 AM
Nicole Perlroth will join Lisa Kaplan, founder and CEO of our portfolio company Alethea, and others for an empowering panel discussion during a curated breakfast bringing together female cybersecurity leaders.
The Next Threat Cycle
Tuesday, March 24 | 1:30 PM
Kevin Mandia and Nicole Perlroth will join NightDragon’s Innovation Summit for a panel on what’s coming next in the cyber threat landscape and how defenders should prepare.
ShiftNow: AppSec & AI Community Event
Wednesday, March 24 | 3:00 PM
Ballistic is hosting the ShiftNow community of AppSec and AI practitioners for a curated afternoon on the future of application security. We’ll host conversations with Nicole Perlroth, Phil Venables, CISO Operating PartnerDavid Hahn, CISO-in-Residence Julie Tsai, and portfolio companies Aembit, Oligo, ArmorCode, Native Security, and Root Evidence. We’ll cover the evolving threat landscape, security in the AI era, emerging red-teaming approaches, real-world lessons from CISOs, and more.
We hope to see you at RSAC next week!